Safety Assessment

Now for a preview of the safety position, one of the most enigmatic and underrated positions on the team. The tandem of Michael Lewis and Dashon Goldson compose one the better pairs in the conference. Goldson broke out last year, leading the team in interceptions with four and ranking second on the team in tackles with 94. The question is, can Goldson take another large step to become an elite player?

Lewis contributes to the team’s deserved reputation as a run-halting unit with his skills as an in-the-box player. But it begs another question – Is that what’s needed in a league increasingly dominated by the pass? Lewis’s speed and coverage skills are underrated, but he’s still considered much more of a run player. It might be one reason the 49ers drafted the physically-freakish Taylor Mays in the second round. However as it stands now, Mays isn’t ready to challenge Lewis as a starter, but he may be used in special packages and the team would love him to become a special teams threat. He certainly has the size and speed to do so.

Is Dashon Goldson ready for another break out?

The team isn’t likely to keep more than four safeties, which makes for a training camp duel between the surprising Curtis Taylor and Reggie Smith. A third-rounder in ’08, Smith started as a cornerback but has settled in at safety. However, he didn’t flash as much as Taylor during OTA’s. Taylor, seven-rounder from last year, showed a greedy pair of hands particularly in the June workouts. Taylor, at a rangy 6-2, 208, has more of a traditional safety frame than Smith (6-1, 200). The determining factor here could their special teams work.

Rookie free agent Chris Maragos, a former team captain at Wisconsin, will need to make a huge impression to unseat Taylor or Smith. He did lead the Badgers in interceptions last year with four.